[PatrickHenry]

Everybody be nice.

[PatrickHenry]

PING. [This ping list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and sometimes for other science topics. FReepmail me to be added or dropped.]

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

The assumption here seems to be that the origin of humankind was in Africa.

Is that the majority opinion now? Are there any knowledgeable dissenters?

Just curious.

[Moonman62]

I thought this was going to be another thread about amnesty.

[buffyt]

There was a special on TV about this. They actually traveled from Africa, up through Europe, over to Alaska, where you used to be able to walk across when there was a land bridge, then down through Canada, USA, and SA. It was very interesting.

[nightdriver]

It could be argued that his model for migratory pressure is flawed, if human nature is to be considered. Humans are much more ambulatory than the study would intimate, certainly over the long periods of time under study.

His study would probably be more accurate for colonies of bacteria.

[DoctorMichael]

Interesting. Bttt

[Doctor Stochastic]

Ok, now that I read the original, it's even better than the publicity blurb.

[observer5]

This entire this is horse-s*it.

100% Pure Speculation

[Mr. K]

I can program a computer to give you any result you want... what's the big deal?

[RightWhale]

Probably next they'll want to use real data and pop on over to the Global Climate Lab to use their earth model.

[Ichneumon]

It's always helpful to refer to the original paper instead of a "popular" article on it, so here's the actual paper: Mutations arising in the wave front of an expanding population .

Abstract:

The ability to infer the time and place of origin of a mutation can be very useful when reconstructing the evolutionary histories of populations and species. We use forward computer simulations of population growth, migration, and mutation in an analysis of an expanding population with a wave front that advances at a constant slow rate. A pronounced founder effect can be observed among mutations arising in this wave front where extreme population bottlenecks arise and are followed by major population growth. A fraction of mutations travel with the wave front and generate mutant populations that are on average much larger than those that remain stationary. Analysis of the diffusion of these mutants makes it possible to reconstruct migratory trajectories during population expansions, thus helping us better understand observed patterns in the evolution of species such as modern humans. Examination of some historical data supports our model.

The full text of the paper can be read accessed from that link, but will require a PNAS subscription or a one-time $10 fee.

[Gritty]

humans migrated from Africa and spread to the rest of the world

I think this is great news. It means we can ALL now apply now for reparations!

[jpsb]

[if a population has 10 mutations after 50,000 years of evolution from the common ancestor in Africa, then the fifth mutation probably arose 25,000 years ago.]

Absolutely no reason to believe the above is true. And lots of reasons to believe it's false.